Pennsylvania’s economy is tracking upward. Unemployment is near all-time lows. High-wage, family-sustaining jobs are available statewide. This economic boom promises prosperity for all, right?
Not quite. Look more closely, and the upward trajectory threatens to flatline. Good jobs need good people to fill them, but too many Pennsylvanians lack the skills needed for workplace success. Without capable people filling our jobs, the economy stalls, and prosperity for all becomes a dream for another day.
Part of the solution to averting this hit-or-miss economy is funding for K-12 education that helps close academic achievement gaps. We must correct the inequities allowing one student to attend schools where learning is paramount and a range of experiences offers career exploration, while another attends under-resourced schools where the amenities promoting classroom success are missing, and enrichment opportunities are scarce.
Read the full article here: https://www.goerie.com/opinion/20190511/k-12-funding-needed-to-boost-economy-tom-tupitza